Dental appliance



Aug-. 24 ,1'926. N. C. LEONARD DENTAL APPLIANCE Filed 001:. 15, 1925 "Imam n;

Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

untrue stares NORRIS c. LEONARD, or BALTIMOR MAnYLAnn.

DENTAL APPLIANCE.

Application filed.- October 15, 1925. Serial No. 62,572.

This invention relates to improvements in dental appliances and more particularly to means for the orthodontic treatment of malocclusion of teeth and stimulation to the growth of the j aw and other undeveloped or malformed bones of the face,-one object of the invention being to provide means where by the natural occlusal forces may be utilized to correct malocclusion.

A further object is to provide means to enhanee positive intermaxillary force in making mesio-distal'adjustments of the teeth, or in changing the mesio-distalrelations of the maxillary and mandibular bones.

, l Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain features hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view showing my improvements applied to teeth of upper and lower j w 1 Figure 2 is a view in elevation;

Figures 3 and i are views of the devices;

Figure 5 is a sectional View,

Figure 6 is a sectional View at rightangles to Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a view showing another embodiment of the invention.

The usual method heretofore practiced in applying intermaxillary force for securing movements or adjustments of teeth in orthodontic treatment has been through the use of ligatures (usually elastics) attached to stationary hookslocated mesially in one jaw and distally in the other, the elastics exerting a constant pressure or.force which is delivered equally to each jaw, though in opposite directions. I

My improvements utilize the natural physiological muscular forces used in nor mal mastication, the direction of these forces being slightly changed or modified by artificial inclined planes acting either upon each other, or upon natural inclined planes of cusps of the teeth as the grinding surfaces of opposing ones are brought into occlusion during the act of masticating the food. By slightly changing at intervals the relation of the occluding inclined planes carried by the opposing jaws, the muscular forces which normally act at right angles to the plane of occlusion are partially re-directed by the shifted inclined planes so that a part of the forces are received at right angles to the axes of the teeth, causing them to move in a direction parallel to the plane of occlusion.

These forces which have been changed in several teeth of each jaw. Itwill be understood however, that the devices may be made for application to a' single tooth of each jaw.

A plurality of connected bands, (forming.

a band frame 4) are shown as fitted to three teeth of one jaw and from one side of said band frame a plurahty of prongs 5 depend.

These prongs are preferably made somewhat tapering and are rounded or beveled at their free ends so that they will present inclined planes 6 whichcoopera-te with each other inclined planes carried by teeth of the other jaw (as hereinafter described) and thus operate when the jaws come together as in masticating, to move the teeth toward positi-on for correct occlusion.

Connected bands, forming a band frame 7, are fitted to a plurality of teeth of the opposing ja'w (the lower jaw in the embodi ment of the invention shown in the drawing), and this band frame'Thas, assembled therewith, a bracket 8 having a groove 9 to receive an edge portion 10 of a movable member 11 when the latter is disposed in operative position upon the'bracket.

and 13, through which an adjusting screw 14 passes freely,one end-of said screw hav-.

ing a tool-receivii'ig head 15 and having a nut 16 on its other end, so that longitudinal movement of said screw will be prevented. A sleeve 17 projects from the'movable member 11 and enters between the bracket sleeves 12 and 13, said sleeve 17 being internally threaded for the accommodation of the ad justing screw 14 so that when the latter is turned, the member 11 will be moved longitudinally. The movable or adjustable member 11 is formed with a plurality of depressions 18 corresponding in number with the prongs 5 and adapted to receive the same. The walls of the depressions 18 are so beveled as to present inclined planes 19 with which latter the prongs cooperate to' cause movement of the member 11 and with it, the

The bracket 8 is also provided with sleeves 12" bracket Sand the teeth to which said bracket is, attached by means of the band frame 7.

It will be understood that when the devices are first applied to teeth of a patient, the horizontal adjustmentof the member 11 car 7 ried by teeth of one jaw, relatively. to the prongs carried by teeth of the other jaw, will be comparatively slight,so that the teeth to be moved toward correct position will f be slightly moved during mastication over and this without subjecting the-patient to undue discomfort.

In the embodiment of the" invention shown in Figure 7, a bracket is fittedover a plurality of teeth of one jaw and on this bracket a movable member 21 is mounted to be slid or adjusted longitudi nally over said bracket 20 and over the cusps of the teeth covered by the same. The movable member 21 is provided with an impression of the cusps of the teeth over which it is disposed, as indicated by the depressions 22, the walls of these depressions forming inclined planes with -which teeth of the other jaw cooperate to effect correction of ma1-occlusion. The movable member 21 may be adjusted by means of screw devices as indicated at 28. Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is V r 1. Orthodontic means, comprising a mem- 1 her to be carried by teeth of one jaw and having inclined planes to be engaged during masticating movements of the jaws to, cause the upper and lower jaws or teeth tobe moved respectively in opposite directions.

2. Orthodontic means, comprising a member to be carried by teeth of one jaw and having inclined planes to beengaged during masticating movements'of the jaws to cause the upper and lower jaws or teeth to be moved respectively in oppositedirections, and means to adjust said member ina direction approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axes of theteeth.

3. Orthodontic means, comprising a support to be carried by teeth of one jaw, a member movably mounted on said support and having inclined planes to be engaged during mastication, and screw means for adjusting said member on said support longitudinally of the latter.

4. Orthodontic means, comprising a support adaptable for attachment to teeth of one jaw, a member mounted on and adjustable longitudinally wvith relation to said support, said member having depressions forming i'nclined'planes, and means adaptable for attachment'to teeth of the other jaw and cooperable with the inclined planes of said member. 7

5. Orthodontic means, comprising a support adaptable for attachment to teeth of one jaw, a member mounted on and adjust- ,able longitudinally with relation to said teeth of one jaw, a member movably mounted on said bracket and having inclined planes to be engaged during mastication, a screw carriedby said bracket and having threaded connection with said member whereby the latter may be adjusted longitudinally with relation to saidbrac'ket.

In testimony whereof, I- have signed this specification.

Nomus o. LEONARD. 

